I broke the ligaments on the ankle: symptoms, treatment methods, rehabilitation, reviews

Throughout life, a person can face various kinds of traumatic situations. It can be all kinds of sprains, fractures or other injuries. What if torn ligaments on the ankle? How to recognize an injury? Its symptoms, treatment and rehabilitation methods are briefly described in the article.

Definition

The schematic and photo of the torn ankle ligaments show that this injury is moderately severe. It is characterized by damage to the integrity of the fibers of the ligaments of the ankle joint, which can occur for a number of reasons or cases when the leg joint abruptly takes the most unnatural position.

Causes of occurrence

A torn ankle ligament on the leg can occur for a number of the following reasons:

1. Turning up when walking the foot and taking it in an unnatural position. The leg can be tucked inward or outward. This trauma can be a consequence of walking on uneven surfaces, stairs, as well as on ice in the cold season.
   
2. Significantly increases the chance of injury when wearing high-heeled shoes.
3. In old age, poor coordination of movements can be observed and, as a result, a certain kind of injury occurs.
4. All kinds of sprains and tears of the ligamentous tissue of the ankle joint can also occur as a result of active sports. Most often they accompany footballers, runners and jumpers.
5. Some diseases that lead to a violation of the elasticity of the ligaments or improper arch of the foot can also cause a rupture.

In addition, it is noted that people who lead a sedentary lifestyle are more prone to various injuries, as atrophy of muscles and ligaments of the joints can occur.

Degrees of damage

If a person has torn ligaments on the ankle, does this mean that they are completely torn off from their attachment to the bone? Such a pathological condition can be observed if the injury is assigned a third degree of severity. In this case, the first degree is characterized only by a partial rupture of the individual fibers of the ligaments, and the second - of one ligament, without loss of leg functionality.

The chances of getting any degree of injury are the same, but fortunately, the first or second degree of damage is more common. Injuries of this kind are much easier to treat, and the rehabilitation period is much shorter.

Symptoms

Injury is not distinguished by the absence of characteristic manifestations. If the ligaments of the ankle are torn, the following symptoms are observed:

1. Sharp painful sensations that occur almost immediately after injury. The pain is acute, aggravated by touching the foot, may be accompanied by burning sensation.
   
2. Edema, which also begins immediately after rupture. First, it is localized exactly at the site of the torn ligament. But over time, it extends to the entire ankle. In severe injuries, edema can persist for up to a month.
   
3. Extensive hematoma, which is a hemorrhage due to rupture of ligaments. With minor damage, it is not pronounced. If there is an extensive bruise, then this indicates a serious injury.
4. A noticeable limitation of mobility, which is characterized by the inability to step on an injured leg, soreness when touched and attempts to feel it.
5. When a leg falls or tucks, which are accompanied by a rupture of ligaments, symptoms occur almost instantly. They are the reason for contacting the emergency room with the subsequent provision of medical care. Therapy and rehabilitation of an injury depends entirely on its severity.

First aid

If the ligaments on the ankle are torn, treatment should begin at the site of injury with first aid. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Limit the damaged limb as much as possible from any movement.
2. Provide a person with a state of rest, preferably lying down. At the same time, it is recommended to place the foot on a small hill to reduce swelling of the soft tissues.
3. Immediately after receiving an injury, a person feels acute pain. To stop it, it is recommended to apply ice to the injured ankle with an interval of 20 minutes. You also need to put a towel or other cloth under the ice to prevent frostbite on the tissues.
   
4. In order not to burden the sore leg, you can apply a bandage from an elastic bandage. This procedure immobilizes the joint.
5. With severe pain, you can give the victim painkillers in tablets or apply a cooling ointment to the injured leg.

It is recommended to call an ambulance for the victim. This is due to the fact that only a qualified traumatologist can determine the exact nature of the injury and its subsequent treatment. Symptoms of ligament rupture are very similar to the manifestations of a fracture, therefore it is very important to exclude this possibility using modern research methods.

Diagnostics

What to do if ligaments on the ankle are torn? First of all, in order to exclude the possibility of a fracture and confirm the diagnosis, some studies are needed. These include:

1. X-ray diagnostics. It will show the displacement of the joint and a large tear of the ligaments, if any.
2. Magnetic resonance imaging. It is necessary to establish the fact of internal damage.
3. CT scan. It will help to assess the condition of the joint and its internal cavities.
4. Ultrasound diagnostics. Needed to fix soft tissue damage.

Upon receipt of such a patient in a medical institution, he should immediately be examined by a traumatologist and surgeon. They will conduct a survey in which they will find out the symptoms that the patient is experiencing, as well as a physical examination and palpation of the damaged ankle.

Conservative therapy

What if the ankle ligament is torn? For the treatment of this type of injury, conservative treatment can be prescribed, which consists of limiting the mobility of the ankle joint. For this, applying a plaster cast. Her wearing is recommended for about a month, after which the doctor should remove the cast. This technique is shown in the case of a third degree of ligament rupture.

Also, the movement of the joint can be limited with an elastic bandage. It can be wound around the ankle by eight - the first circle above the ankle, and the second around the foot. The bandage should be quite tight, but do not pinch your leg so that blood circulation is not impaired.

If a person has torn ankle ligaments, how much does the injured place heal? On average, healing lasts about a month, and rehabilitation can last a little longer. This is especially true for severe injuries with loss of mobility.

Physiotherapy

How to treat torn ankle ligaments? Often, physiotherapeutic procedures are used for this:

1. Ultra-high frequency inductothermy, or UHF, normalizes blood flow, establishes metabolic processes in the soft tissues and promotes their healing.
2. Balneotherapy - effect on a sore spot with the help of therapeutic mud saturated with useful substances.
   
3. Ultrasound therapy helps to establish lymph exchange, reduces the inflammatory process in damaged tissues. Often carried out in combination with treating ointments.
4. Water procedures have a positive effect on muscle tone, as well as smooth out pain and contribute to the speedy tissue regeneration.
5. Paraffin therapy relieves inflammation, so it is prescribed in the first days after receiving an injury.
6. Diadynamic therapy is a treatment with currents of different frequencies that act directly on the damaged area.
7. Magnetotherapy is used to reduce edema and improve blood flow.

These procedures are carried out as prescribed by the attending physician in the presence of a physiotherapist.

Physiotherapy

If the ligaments of the ankle are torn, the consequences in the form of subsequent inactivity of the joint can be prevented with the help of physiotherapy exercises. It should also be performed under the supervision of a doctor so that the patient does not harm himself by improper performance of exercises. They must be performed after the swelling subsides, usually 3 days after the injury. The patient is shown such exercises:

1. Static tension of the muscles of the leg and foot.
2. Intense finger movement of the lower limb.
3. Lifting on socks is shown a week after injury.
4. Pulling objects toward you with your toes.
5. Slow walking

It is very important to do warm-up before doing the exercises in order not to aggravate the situation.

Massage

If the ligaments in the ankle are torn, massage is recommended. It has such useful properties:

• pain reduction;
• improvement of plasticity and joint mobility;
• stopping the development of muscle atrophy;
• improved ligament elasticity.

Massage should be done exclusively by a specialist with a medical education. It should be smooth and soft, without sudden movements and pressure on the injured place. Massage is indicated 1-2 weeks after receiving the injury - when the swelling and pain disappear.

Drug therapy

Ligament healing lasts a rather long period of time. To accelerate this process, it is possible to use anti-inflammatory drugs - such as Diclofenac, Nise, Ketanov, Movalis, Diclac. These drugs are available in tablet form and are used to relieve pain, as well as to eliminate inflammation in the soft tissues of the ankle.

For acute pain, ointments such as Deep Reelif, Dolobene, Fastum Gel, Diclovit are used. They also relieve inflammation locally and have a cooling effect.

Surgical intervention

Unfortunately, in some cases, methods of conservative therapy do not have the desired effect. In this case, surgery may be indicated. It is aimed at stitching torn ligaments or their complete replacement. Such operations are necessary for severe injuries, when the ligaments are completely torn or torn off from their attachment to the bone.

Conclusion

Ankle injuries are a rather unpleasant phenomenon, since they significantly worsen a person’s quality of life. When receiving this kind of damage, the main thing is to find a qualified doctor who can prescribe the necessary treatment and monitor the rehabilitation process.